Needs+Anaylsis+and+Narrative

Needs Analysis

//**Type of technology or enhancement**// laptops || no textbooks || larger classroom || less students || access to latest technology || indirect lighting || color printer in each classroom || Interactive smart board ||
 * **//title of person//** || 1 to 1
 * 7th grade English Teacher || x ||  || x || x || x || x || x || x ||
 * 12th grade male tech-savvy student || x || x ||  ||   || x (all open source, including Linux) ||   ||   ||   ||
 * 8th grade female student || x || x ||  || x || x ||   ||   ||   ||


 * Narrative**

Our school district built a brand new 35 million dollar high school building. While the classrooms have many great features, there are aspects of the rooms that I feel could have been done better. My design for this "smart classroom" is how I think the new classrooms in the new ACHS should have been done. I had two students and one teacher complete a basic "needs analysis" before we moved into the new building. The 12th grade student is one of the technology helpers, so his main focus was on having his own laptop equipped with Linux and access to all open source applications that he might deem necessary. His main concern was not to have to carry any textbooks!! The 8th grade student wanted her own laptop too, and also noted that less kids in a class would be a good thing. The 7th grade English teacher wanted just about everything that I was planning to add; it was interesting.

First, the classroom should be larger and have less student desks in it. The current rooms are 25X25 with 28 student desks. I think a reasonable size would be 30X35 with no more than 20 student desks. I would add at least two octagonal tables for group work and conferencing. The lighting would stay the same and the dry erase and bulletin boards are also sufficient. The LCD machine is currently mounted from the ceiling but each classroom needs interactive whiteboards. I would also add a teacher "smart desk" in which all of the media equipment would be stored and there would also be plenty of room for office supplies. The built-in cabinetry in the current room is sufficient but I would add one large shelving unit on which to store or display books, projects etc... Students benefit most from a 1 to 1 laptop configuration, thus this is what I would want for my smart classroom.

In a study done at Boston College ([|Russell, Bebell & Higgins, 2004]) it was found that in order to increase the use of computers for student learning, the computers must be ubiquitous and pervasive. This can ultimately be achieved through a 1 to 1 setting. Benefits from 1 to 1 computer use include such things as increased student engagement, decreased disciplinary problems, increased use of computers for writing, analysis and research, a movement towards student-centered classrooms and an increase in standardized test scores. In order for this to work the teacher in a 1 to 1 classroom would have to be trained and motivated to integrate the computers into everyday learning. This would be no problem for me and my smart classroom.

There is quite a bit of [|research] to support the benefits of interactive white boards, and they seem to come along in the package of 1 to 1 initatives such as Classrooms for the Future. Although there has been research to support lower class sizes in k-3 classrooms, there is still a lack of research to support lower class sizes in the middle level grades and its impact on achievement. I've been reminded of this lack of research many times by the assistant principal in charge of discipline when I protest against large class sizes (each classroom in our new building has 28 desks). I usually reply that a person doesn't have to do formal research to realize that a teacher can much more effectively meet the needs of 20 students versus 28, and with a lot less behavior issues to deal with. He has replied that if any of us want to do some educational research, that would be a good topic to choose. (UGH, right?) So, although there is currently a lack of research to support my design of 20 students in my class, I am sticking with it.

If our school moves to a true 1 to 1 situation, we would have to make sure that our bandwidth can support that. My plan is one that I learned from my first project which would be for ten mbit to be delivered to the district MDF through Comcast (commercial) Services. This would allow for 10/100 mbit Ethernet connectivity from the laptops (through the use of Edge ports on the switches) and uplink ports on the switches would allow for gigabit or ten gigabit interconnectivity using fibre optic or copper cabling. I think this would also be important if our school does go to Internet2 as the k-12 initiative comes through.

Security and tech support would be issues that would have to be looked at. I would assume that Apple and our technology director would have recommendations and suggestions. I would assume that in the sales or lease agreement for the laptops there would be a comprehensive service plan to deal with the tech issues that might arise with a 1 to 1. I think that our computer classes and teachers would also have to be trained in the programs that students will have access to on the laptops. Parents and students would have to sign contracts of use so that students understand the expectations of use and the consequences if they are not met.

Much of what I have proposed in this design is already being implemented in my school district. I do not know what model our district followed to determine the size of the classrooms, but every teacher agrees they are too small. They are smaller than most of the classrooms in the old building. As technology does become more pervasive and ubiquitous in my building, we will definitely need more on-site technical support than we currently have. This is a real problem with the CFF funding - it doesn't seem to ear-mark sufficient funds for this. Ultimately, I feel the repsonsiblity goes back to the commitment of the superindentent and the school board when a decision is made to take on such an enormous project like a 1 to 1 initiative. I am definitely up for the challenge, which is why I designed my own "smart classroom".


 * Citation**

Russell Michael, Damian Bebell, and Jennifer Higgins. Laptop Learning: An Examination of Upper Elementary Classrooms With 1 to 1 Student to Computer Ratios. Technology Assessment Study Collaborative. February 2004, 17 pages.